Tag: Drunk Driving Lawyers Baltimore

Maryland Police Make 80 DUI Arrests in Single Weekend

Posted on by YostLaw

This past weekend saw an absolutely staggering number of drivers arrested across Maryland for drunk and intoxicated driving. Maryland Police are reporting that a total of 80 motorists were arrested for DUI over the course of just one weekend. To make matters worse, a significant number of these incidents did not involve drivers that were just barely over the legal alcohol limit of .08, but rather were severely intoxicated. In many cases, drivers had Blood Alcohol Content readings of nearly twice the legal limit.

Fortunately, these drivers were mostly arrested and charged without incident, and no major accidents or fatal injuries took place. However, any one of these motorists could have easily caused a tragic situation in a matter of moments.

The most troubling incidents that took place over the weekend included one drunk driver that side-swiped a state trooper’s vehicle, completely removing the officer’s side view mirror. Another criminally reckless driver was observed traveling drunk at 94 miles an hour with a seven-year-old child in the back seat. A third motorist was caught driving while drunk twice within the span of only a few hours.

While these are isolated incidents, they are also indicative of a larger and more disturbing trend related to drunk driving. Despite the numerous and admirable programs targeted at preventing and ending the practice of drunk driving, it remains a very real issue in Maryland and across the U.S.

Some of the most recent statistics indicate that:

  • In 2013, the most recent year for which full data is available, there were a total of 142 alcohol-related fatalities in Maryland
  • 30.5% of all driving fatalities in Maryland were alcohol-related in 2013
  • The rate of highly-intoxicated drivers in Maryland, meaning drivers caught with BAC readings of .15 or over, was 71%
  • In 2013, the total number of Maryland drivers arrested for DUI was 14,793

Thirteen of the eighty arrests made over the weekend were initiated by the Maryland State Police S.P.I.D.R.E (State Police Impaired Driving Effort) Unit, a special group of State Troopers dedicated to targeting and removing drunk drivers from Maryland’s roads and highways. Founded in July of 2013, this unit focuses on running programs that reduce the amount of alcohol-related crashes in Baltimore.

At The Yost Legal Group, Baltimore Car Accident and Personal Injury law firm, we fully support the efforts of our State and Local Police, as well as organizations that actively work to reduce drunk drivers on our roads and highways. Our attorneys have represented far too many victims and families that had their lives adversely impacted by the negligent, selfish and reckless actions of drunk drivers. This behavior is criminal, and cannot be tolerated in any instance.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, call The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529). When you call our law firm, you will receive a FREE, confidential and no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced Baltimore, Maryland Drunk Driving and Car Accident lawyers. Let the experienced legal team at The Yost Legal Group help provide the answers you seek.

The Yost Legal Group – Experienced Attorneys Dedicated to Protecting Your Rights

Holiday Season Linked to High Rates of Drunk Driving

Posted on by YostLaw

With Thanksgiving only a week away and the Holiday season just around the corner, millions of Americans will be traveling by car to visit friends and family across the country. The US Department of Transportation considers the week before Thanksgiving to be the busiest long distance travel period of the year, with long-distance driving trips increasing by 54%.

Taking a road trip to visit friends and family we don’t get to see often is one of the most enjoyable parts of this time of year. However, between the holiday festivities and the extra volume of cars on the road, drivers must be especially wary of drunk or impaired drivers.

In 2013, an estimated 436 drivers were involved in vehicle-related fatalities on Thanksgiving Day. And over 46,000 people were injured in car wrecks, many due to drunk drivers and distracted drivers.

Drunk driving plays a major role in the spike of accidents around Thanksgiving, but the increase in drunk driving accidents becomes even more severe towards the end of December. The US Department of Transportation estimates that drunk driving accidents cause an average of 27 deaths every day in December, and that drunk drivers play a role in 40% of all traffic deaths on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. That rate is 12% higher than at any other point in December.

If you are planning to travel this Holiday Season, The Yost Legal Group wants to remind you to be aware and be prepared. Here are a few thoughts to keep in mind while behind the wheel:

  • Always buckle up: Whether you’re driving across the state or just around the corner, never leave without first securing the seatbelts of everyone in the vehicle.
  • Play it safe: We all have plans that we need to keep during the holidays, but always try to leave yourself extra time to arrive at your destination. Don’t rush, obey the posted speed limit and remember that arriving safe is always the number one priority.
  • Drive defensively: You cannot control the actions of other drivers, but you can control your own conduct on the road. Defensive driving techniques like maintaining a safe 3-4 second following distance, using proper turn signals, avoiding distractions like your phone, and paying attention to other drivers on the road will help you avoid a dangerous situation.
  • Be aware: Holiday parties mean that Law Enforcement in your area will be stepping up their efforts to prevent crashes and get impaired drivers off the road. Expect sobriety check points and an increased Law Enforcement presence on the road, and NEVER GET BEHIND THE WHEEL IF YOU’VE BEEN DRINKING.

At The Yost Legal Group, we wish you and your family a safe and healthy holiday season. However, if you or a loved one are injured by a drunk driver or in a car wreck that was not your fault, call the experienced Drunk Driving and Car Accident Attorneys at The Yost Legal Group right away at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529). Our experienced Baltimore injury attorneys will investigate your case thoroughly, and we will work hard to recover the maximum compensation for you.

Our experienced car accident lawyers know how to handle the big insurance companies and will make sure that your rights are protected. Let us help you receive the full compensation to which you are entitled under Maryland Law.

The Yost Legal Group, Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting your Rights.

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